Panama Maritime Authority (AMP)

The Autoridad Maritima de Panama (AMP), the government body that administers Panama’s ship registry, the largest open registry by gross tonnage, along with seafarer certification, ports, and maritime affairs. Created by Decree Law No.7 of 1998, the AMP exercises flag-state functions for the thousands of vessels under the Panamanian flag, issuing statutory certificates, IMO-number-keyed registration, and managing port-state and casualty matters. Its size makes its enforcement record material to global flag-state-performance assessments.